Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to build a melamine cage for a Blood that I am getting. (not time soon, until everything is done). I know it sounds wierd but I am making its adult cage way before I might need it, and even before he comes home. The problem is: the cage will be in my room and I need to find a way to keep the tank warm @ night.

I dont know what to use as an all around heating source in a melamine cage that is humidity resistant.

I may have an ultrasonic humidifier hook up for the cage.....or is this too much?? Should I just stay with a spray bottle and spray every now and then? I know the humidity needs to be around 70% so I figured to have a humidifier connected and just turn in on here and there to create the nessesary humidity.

I am getting a Sumatran "Black" short tail, I'm starting out small, and I need to know what size cage would be good for an adult? And where I could find a CB ONLY Baby??

Thanks alot,

Lu

either of these will heat through a melamine enclosure...
you'll need to hook whichever you shoose up to a thermostat.

You shouldn't have a problem with the humidity, perhaps only in the cooler months, which you can just spray water when needed.
All my enclosures are melamine, and i didn't spray one of them this summer...

gvg

Hey,

Thanks, I planned on using heat tape on the bottom after routing into the melamine and having it about 1/4 inch near the surface of the bottom board. And controlling it with an ESU reptile thermostat. Should I use heat from above also or do you think the heat tape will sufice??

Do you know if a cage that measures 36 long x 16 wide x unknown height will sufice for an adult male Sumatran Black or Borneo Short tail??

I really wanted to purchase a male sumatran red, but I am not to sure of how big it will get. I am new to these large pythons and the largest pythons I have owned where ball pythons.

Thanks for your help,

Lu

you dont even need to router out anything for the heat tape. 11" heat tape will heat through 3/4 inch fine.

As for the cage size. 4x2x1 is good for an adult. i wouldn't go with anything smaller...

gvg

Hey,
Prior to my putting my melamine cages together, I cover the surface of the material with " Contact Brand" contact paper (white), sold by Home depot. I use this to cover the material and protect it from the humidity. I have not used this stuff any other way (melamine), other than with the contact brand paper - so I don't know how well the melamine will hold up to the high humidity. The edges or point of contact of the materials are then given a clean line of white silicone II rubber to protect the edges and corners from spills.

You don't need to continually spray your short-tail or blood, as these cages, depending on how they are constructed can hold quite a bit of moisture of their own, by virtue of the water dish and substrate if you're using cypress mulch or some other moisture retaining material. Mine stay at about 60-70%, depending on the day and the weather conditions just with the water dish. They some times drop down to about 50%, but that is rare.

As for heating, the Helix and Pro-Product heat panels are great. Although, if you were to ask Robyn of PE, fame, he would argue to the contrary about the use of ProPanel. However, the use of the product is purely subjective I think.

All the best with your choice. - Angel

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